Grip assist apparatus with palm arch support

Abstract

A grip assist apparatus that may be worn on either hand that includes a symmetrical non-slip gripping portion that includes a substantially stiff palm arch support, a wrist portion, and a releasable wrist fastener.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to the field of strength training and weight lifting and, in particular, to grip assist apparatus for use therein.BACKGROUND[0002]Strength training has become a widely practiced activity for both men and women. In addition to being a sport in and of itself, strength training is also utilized as a conditioning and strengthening exercise for other sports, such as football, basketball, and baseball. Furthermore, athletes who rely on agility, such as tennis players, also benefit from strength training.[0003]In sports, protective equipment is utilized to prevent injury to the participant. With respect to strength training, protective equipment is also needed, as all the joints of the body may be subjected to extreme forces. In particular, the wrist joint is subjected to these extreme forces any time the trainee's hands utilize a weight bar during the course of strength training.[0004]It is also important to protect the palm during...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]The symmetry of the preferred grip assist apparatus' makes it wearable on either hand, as both sides are slightly narrowed to accommodate a thumb. This versatility makes the present invention applicable to occupations beyond weightlifting. Baggage handlers, for example, may predominantly use one hand at a time, but alternate which hand is predominant so as not to overly fatigue one or the other. Such a baggage handler may have a need to protect one hand at a time, so it is useful to have one grip assist apparatus that may be switched from hand to hand as needed, rather than having to keep track of two hand-specific grip assist apparatuses and switching between them, or having only one hand-specific grip apparatus necessitating that he always use the same hand as his predominant hand. This versatility is also useful in any other such application where stress may be put on one hand at a time and a good grip is necessary, such as package delivery, moving, and construction. A grip assist apparatus that may be worn on either hand, such as that of the present invention, is also useful in weight lifting for exercises, such as those with dumb bells, where typically only one hand is used at a time but both hands are worked.

[0015]The finger end of the gripping portion is the end of the gripping portion that will cover and protect the fingers of the user of the grip assist apparatus when the apparatus is in use.

[0017]The flexible area is a part of the gripping portion between the end piece and the palm arch support. The flexible area preferably consists of only the two layers of the gripping portion, and no additional supports. However, the flexible area may include other layers. Further, in embodiments of the apparatus that are molded, this flexible area is unitary in design and has a thinner cross section that allows it to flex. When in use, the flexible area will protect the joints of the fingers while still allowing those joints to curl strongly around the bar.

[0018]The stiff palm arch support is an extra support disposed within the gripping portion and positioned adjacent to the flexible area. The palm arch support will protect the palm of the user's hand when the grip assist apparatus is in use. Although flexible to allow for a secure grip, the palm arch support is substantially stiff. It is neither soft nor cushioned, and conforms to neither the user's palm nor the item the user grips. This is so that if the user wishes to adjust his grip, the palm arch support is not conformed to the grip of the prior position. The palm arch support aids in the even distribution of pressure across the palm during weight lifting. As such, it is particularly applicable for use with exercises where the user is pushing the weights away from his body, such as with the bench press.

[0019]The wrist attachment ends are positioned adjacent to the palm arch support. These are areas of the gripping portion that will protect the cushions at the base of the user's hand when the grip assist apparatus is in use. The wrist portion of the grip assist apparatus may be attached to the gripping portion at the wrist attachment ends.

[0022]In the preferred embodiment of the grip assist apparatus of the present invention, the wrist attachment ends of the gripping portion are angled such that when the straps of the wrist portion are secured about the user's wrist, the straps and the gripping portion form a funnel-like enclosure around the user's wrist and base of hand. The funnel-like enclosure has an opening larger at the distal end than at the proximal end. Thus, the narrowest part of the funnel-like enclosure is at the wrist and the widest part is at the base of the hand. This reduces chafing of the user's hand during use.

Problems solved by technology

Exercises that put a large amount of pressure on these nerves leave the weight lifter susceptible to injury and syndromes, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and Guyon's canal syndrome.

Although the invention of this patent is successful as a grip assist apparatus, it lacks sufficient palm support.

Although capable of supporting the palm, the invention of this patent does not protect any other part of the hand or wrist that may be affected during strength training, nor does it provide any grip assistance as is preferable during strength training.

Although capable of aiding in bowling, this invention is ill-suited to provide palm support for weightlifting purposes.

Specifically, the pad's flexible nature will adjust with changes in pressure, making changes in grip on a bar difficult.

Although the wedge of this patent is directed toward weightlifting, it still has drawbacks.

Specifically, its flexible nature will adjust with changes in pressure, making changes in grip on a bar difficult.

Although useful for some purposes, this wrist brace would be ill-suited for use in weightlifting.

Moreover, it protects only a very small portion of the hand, leaving many areas of the hand that may be affected by weight lifting exposed.

Also, as it includes two hand straps that wrap around the hand and are connected to each other across the dorsal area of the hand, it may unduly restrict a gripping motion of the hand, whereas an unfettered grip is extremely important in weightlifting.

Only the narrow web covers the base of the hand, leaving much of the base of the hand exposed and prone to irritation and / or injury.

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